Punching apparatus



Sept. 26, 1961 R. c. SIMMERMAN ET AL 3,001,694

PUNCHING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1959 M THEIR ATTORNEY Sept. 26, 1961 R. c. SIMMERMAN ET AL 73,001,694

PUNCHING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 15, 1959 WILMER L. MOYER THEIR ATTORNEY Sept. 26, 1961 R. C. SIMMERMAN ET AL PUNCHING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1959 FIG.4

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5

'INVENTORS RICHARD G. SIMMERMAN MELVIN T. ROUDEBUSH a WILMER L. MOYER THEIR ATTORNEY United States Patent ()fiice 3,001,694 Patented Sept. 26, 1961 3,001,694 PUNCHING APPARATUS Richard C. Simmerman, Melvin T. Roudebush, and Wil This invention relates to perforating means and more particularly to apparatus for perforating paper tape at a high rate of speed.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved perforating apparatus whereby the punching elements associated with the perforating apparatus are capable of being selectively activated for a continuous punching op eration at extremely high speeds.

In its illustrated embodiment, the perforating apparatus comprises a plurality of punch elements and punch levers, each punch lever being pivotally supported by a punch element. Associated with the punch levers are a plurality of interposers, each capable of being selectively moved to a position to intercept and engage one end of a punch lever. A continuously-operable eccentric means is rotat ably supported at the other end of each of said punch levers to oscillate the punch levers in an eliiptic-al move ment normally about the punch elements. Upon engagement with an activated interposer, the punch lever will pivot about the latched interposer to operate the punch element. Means are associated with the punch lever and the punch elements for positively restoring the punch elements to their normal position following a punching operation. In addition, continuouslyoperating cam means are provided to positively restore the interposers to their normal position, outside the path of the oscillating punch levers. Therefore, it is another object of the present invention to provide a plurality of punch elements each pivotally supporting an oscillating punch lever, which punch elements are operated whenever the associated punch lever is pivotally engaged with a related latching means.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means for positively resetting the punch elements to their original position after a punching operation has occurred.

Still another object of the invention is to provide continuously-operating means for positively restoring the interposers to their normal position after a punching operation.

With these and incidental objects in View, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, a preferred form or embodiment of which will hereinafter be described with ref rence to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the novel perforating apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic showing of the oscillating movement of the punch lever in a normal position.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic showing of the oscillating movement of the punch lever during a punching operation.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 1, showing the punching elements.

FIG. 5 is a sectional View taken along the lines 55 of FIG. 1, showing the tape-feeding means.

FIG. 6 is a top detail View of the interposer associated with the tape-feeding means.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 77 of FIG. 1, showing the eccentric drive for the punch lever and the tape-feeding means.

FIG. 8 is a front View of the interposer and the interposer arms with the associated armatures.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged side view of the interposer and its adjusting means.

FIG. 10 is a cut-away view showing the connection between the interposer and its interposer arm.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the paper tape used with the perforating apparatus.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8, two side frames 20 and 21 (FIG. 4) form the main supporting means for the novel punching mechanism of the instant invention. The frames 20 and 21 are held in a fixed spaced-apart relationship by a number of cross members, including a punch guide block 22 (FIG. 1), a punch lever comb 41, and a punch interposer guide block 24.

Siidably mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in a punch support block 23 and the punch guide block 22 (FIG. 1) are a plurality of punches 25. In the illustrated embodiment, nine punches 25 (FIG. 4) are shown,

with punch 26 being utilized for punching sprocket holes 27 in a recording tape 28 (FIG. ll), while the remaining eight punches are used to perforate the recording tape in the code associated with the perforating apparatus. It will, however, be obvious that any desired number of punches could be provided, according to the code and the width of the tape employed. 7

As may be seen from FIG. 4, each punch 25 has a recess portion 29, located midway its length, into which is placed one end of a punch-restoring lever 39 (FIG. 1). Each lever 30 is rotatably supported on a shaft 31, suitably secured by the side frames 20 and 21. A spring 117 engages the other end of each of the levers St) for normally urging the levers counter-clockwise about the shaft 31, as viewed in FIG. 1, which, in turn, urge the punches 25 upwardly. Each spring 117 is secured to a bracket 32, which is attached to a support 33 by studs 34. As shown in FIG. 1, every other spring is located in a staggered position, thereby providing enough room to accommodate the number of springs required. Located below the punch support block 23 is a die block 35 (FIGS. 1 and 4), having a series of bores 36 therethrough. Each of the bores 36 is in line with one of the punches 25. A spacer 40 (FIG. 4) is inserted between the two blocks 23 and 35 to provide a clearance for the passage of the tape 28. Both of the blocks are joined by a stud 118. Aligning pins 119 are used to provide the proper alignment between the punches 25 and the bores 36. The chaff resulting from the perforation of the tape will pass through the bores 36 to a suitable receptacle (not shown).

Pivotally supported by each of the punches 25, as shown in FIG. 1, is one of a series of punch levers 37, each lever having one end containing a journaled eccentrio 38 (FIG. 7) formed on a shaft 39. The shaft 39 is suitably journaled in the side frames 20 and 21. The punch lever comb 41, secured to the side frame 21 by screws 121 (FIGS. 1 and 4), is located midway the length of the punch levers 37 and houses a shaft 42, which constitutes a stop for each of the punch levers, as shown in FIG. 4. The punch levers 37 are normally urged against the shaft 42 by the upward movement of the punches 25, as described previously. Power means (not shown), connected to the shaft 39, drives the eccentric 38 continuously in a clockwise direction. As shown in FIG. 2, this clockwise rotation of the eccentric rotates the free end of the punch lever in an elliptical oscillating move ment.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown, located adjacent the free end of the punch lever 37, a series of interposers 43, one for each punch lever, slidably supported in a guide comb block 44. The rear portion of the comb block contains adjusting screws 45, 46 for each in terposer to vary the extent of travel of the interposer a 3 from its'non-operating position (FIG. 2) to its operating position (FIG. 3). Each interposer 43 has an associated interposer arm 47, one end of which is rotatably supported on a shaft 48 (FIGS. 1 and 8), contained within a slotted guide block 24. The guide block is supported by the side frames 20, 21 and acts as a support for the comb block 44, which is attached to the guide block by means of studs 49 (FIG. 8). Each interposer arm 47 has a forked end, which is inserted over a stud 50, located within a slot in the interposer 43 (FIG. The other end of the arm has an ear 51, which is engaged by the armature 52 of a solenoid 53. As seen in FIG. 1, every other interposer arm has its ear 51 in a horizontal plane, so as engage the armature 52 of those solenoids located in front of the arms. The arrangement of the armatures 52 of the solenoids 53 may be best seen in FIG. 8. The solenoids are supported on brackets 54, attached to the side frames 20, 21.

During a punching operation, th solenoids 53 are selec- V tively energized to rotate their armatures 52 counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 1. The solenoid 53 which controls the sprocket-hole-punching means is so connected in circuit with the other solenoids 53, which control data punching in the tape, that it will also be energized when any of the data punch solenoids are energized, thereby to insure that a sprocket hole will be punched in each punching operation. The movement of the armatures rotates the related interposer arms 47 clockwise to move their respective interposers 43 to a position which will engage the free end of the oscillating punch levels 37, as shown in FIG. 3. This engagement takes place at 45 degrees of revolution of the eccentric. Upon engagement with the interposer 43, the punch levers will pivot about the interposer instead of the punches 25, thereby moving the punches downwardly to perforate the tape 28. At approximately 135 degrees of revolution of the eccentric, the free end of the punch lever is disengaged from the interposer, allowing the punches to return to their normal'position under the urging of the springs 117, acting through the levers 30. To insure that the punches are resteored, one end of the punch-restoring lever is engaged by the punch lever 37, as shown in FIG. 3, and is thereby urged counter-clockwise to positively restore the punches 25 to their normal position. This restoring action occurs at approximately l80 degrees of revolution of the eccentric, and the punches are fully restored by 225 degrees of revolution of the eccentric.

Switching means (not shown) associated with the eccentric drive shaft 39 times the energization of the solenoids to allow the solenoids to energize and position the interposers in the path of the free end of the punch levers 37 before the eccentric has reached its -degree position, as viewed in FIG. 3. At 135 degrees of revolution of the eccentric, the lever 37 has moved to the left far enough to be disengaged from the interposer, thus terminating the downward movement of the punch 25.

Located adjacent to and in front of the interposer arms 47 is an interposer-restoring cam 55, which rotates continuously in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1. The cam 55 and the eccentric 38 are rotated on a a oneto-one ratio. The cam is so positioned relatively to the eccentric that the cam surface 56 engages, at 135 degrees of revolution of the eccentric, those interposer arms which have been rotated by their solenoids to a forward position to set the interposers in effective position, and restores each arm and its related armature and interposer to normal position. The restoration of these parts is completed by 225 degrees of revolution of the eccentric. Located adjacent to and in the rear of the guide comb block 44 is a magnet 57, which, upon the restoration of the interposers to their normal position by the cam 55, will hold each interposer and its related arm in ineifective position. The attraction between the magnet 57 and I the interposer arms 47 is not suificient to interfere with the shifting of the interposer arms by the armatures 52 of the solenoids 53. It may thus be seen that the punches and the interposer arms have completed their operating functions and have been restored to their initial position by 225 degrees of revolution of the eccentric. This allows suflicient time for. the solenoids to be selectively energized and their associated interposers to be positioned for the next punching operation.

Means for advancing the taper tape 28 are provided, which means are operated from 258 degrees to 360 degrees of revolution of the eccentric. The paper tape 28 is intermittently fed from a suitable supply roll (not shown) to the punching station by means of a ratchet wheel 58 (FIGS. 1 and 5), pinned to a feed line 59. As

'seen in FIG. 5, the feed line 59 is rotatably supported by the side frame 21 and a support frame 60, which is attached to a bracket (not shown) supported by the side frame 21. A knob 61 is attached to one end of the feed line to provide manual control of the feed line. Located intermediate the ends of the feed line is a sprocket wheel 62, having a series of sprocket teeth 63 for engaging corresponding holes in the paper tape punched by the punch pin 25, as previously explained.

The mechanism for advancing the ratchet wheel to provide a paper-feeding operation includes a pawl 72, pivotally supported within a slot in a shaft 73 on a stud '74 (FIG. 1). The shaft 73 is itself pivotally supported at one end of a paper feed arm 75 (FIGS. 1 and 7) by the stud 76. Referring to FIG. 7, the arm 75 is shown rotatably supported on the flange of an mm 114, within which is journaled the eccentric 38. The arm 114 has a slot 115, within which is slidably located a screw 116, secured to the arm 75, for clamping both of the arms 75, 114 together. Rotation of the eccentric will oscillate the arms about the shaft 39 in an elliptical movement.

As may be seen from FIG. 1, the shaft 73 is positioned for slidable movement within the support 33 and a guide 77, located at the lower end of the shaft. An elliptical movement of the paper feed arm 75 will oscillate the shaft 73 in a vertical direction. This vertical oscillation of the shaft 73 will also oscillate the pawl 72 in a similar manner.

The pawl 72 has a finger 78, which is engaged by a spring 79, attached to a stud in the side frame 21. Another finger '81 of the pawl rides in a vertical slot 82 (FIG. 6), located within the guide 77 (FIGS 1 and 6). The guide 77 also contains a horizontal slot 83 (FIG. 1), within which is slidably located an interposer '84 (FIGS. 1 and 6). As may be seen from FIG. 6, the interposer 84 is pivotally supported on a support '85. Also located on the support 85 is a solenoid 86, having an armature 87, one end of which engages a finger 88 of the interposer 84. Another finger 89 of the interposer is engaged by a spring 90, having its other end secured to a stud 91 on the support 85. Energization of the solenoid 86 during a punching operation will cause the armature to rotate the interposer 84 clockwise, as viewed'in FIG. 6, thereby positioning the end of the interposer out of the path of the finger 81 of the pawl 72 (FIG. 1) for reasons that are explained later.

The pawl 72 has an extension 92, one side of which has a tooth portion which coacts with the ratchet wheel 58. The other side of the extension has a cam surface, which engages a cam 93 as the pawl moves toward its upper position, shown in FIG. 1. The cam 93 is rotatably supported between the side frame 21 and the frame sup port 60 and is manually adjusted so that its highest cam surface will engage the pawl extension 92 and wedge said extension toward the ratchet wheel, thus providing a positive engagement between the pawl 72 and the ratchet wheel 58, as shown in FIG. 1.

During a punching operation, the solenoid 86 will be energized to rotate the interposer 84 out of the path of the feed pawl 72 (FIG. 1). Upon rotation of the eccentric 38 from 0 degree to degrees of revolution, the shaft 73 will move downwardly, thereby withdrawing the tooth portion of the pawl from the ratchet wheel. As the pawl continues its downward movement, the spring 79, attached to the finger 78, will pivot the pawl counter-clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 1. This pivotal movement will position t e tooth portion of the pawl beneath the next lower ratchet tooth. On the upstroke of the shaft 73, which occurs from 180 degrees to 360 degrees of revolution of the eccentric 38, the ratchet wheel will be rotated, due to the engagement of the tooth portion of the pawl 72 with the next lower ratchet tooth, and the paper tape will be advanced. The actual advancing of the paper tape occurs from 257 degrees to 360 degrees of revolution of the eccentric. As described previously, the pawl is wedged into engagement with the ratchet feed by the cam 93, thus assuring a proper feeding operation.

In the event that there is no punching operation, the solenoid 86 will not be energized, and the interposer 84 will remain in the path of the pawl, due to the urging of the spring 90, as shown in FIG. 6. On the downstroke of the shaft 73, the finger 81 of the pawl 72 will engage the interposer 84 and pivot the pawl clockwise about the stud 74. This pivotal movement rotates the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel. On the return stroke of the shaft 73, the pawl will be pivoted back to its original, engagement with the ratchet wheel, thus preventing the advancement of the paper tape. To vary the feeding stroke of the pawl 72. the position of the arms 75, 114 (FIG. 1) of the eccentric may be adjusted with respect to each other by locating the screw 116 within the slot 1-15 to the desired position. By this means, the uppermost position reached by the pawl 72 in its paper feed stroke may be varied.

Means are provided for engaging and positioning the ratchet wheel 58 so as to prevent any movement during a punching operation. Included in this means is a spring arm 64 (FIG. 5), one end of which is attached to the support 33 by a pair of studs 65. The free end of the spring arm 64 bears against the top of a detent damper 66, positioned within a counterbore 67 in the support 33. An adjusting bracket 68, attached to the support 33 by a stud 69 (FIG. 1), contains a bore 70, which is aligned with the counterbore 67 of the support 33. Contained within the bore 70 is a ball 71, freely rotatable and, as can be seen in FIG. 5, riding between the ratchet wheel 58 and the bottom of the damper 66. Counterclockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel 58, as viewed in FIG. 1, will force the ball against the damper, which is restrained by the spring arm 64, thus preventing the ratchet wheel from moving except during a paper-feeding operation, where the rotation of the ratchet wheel is sufficient to overcome the force of the spring arm 64.

To advance the paper tape by manual means, the cam 93 is manually adjusted, so that the lowest surface is adjacent the pawl. This provides sufficient clearance for the pawl 72 to slip over the ratchet teeth as the ratchet wheel is rotated by the knob 61 (FIG. 5) to advance the paper tape any desired length.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown, located adjacent the punching station, a paper tape guide 94, secured to the side frame 21. The guide 94 has a flange 95, extending the width of the paper tape, with a slot 96 intermediate its ends, into which there is normally positioned one end 97 of an arm 98, which is rotatably supported on a stud 99 in the side frame 21. The end 97 of the arm 98 comprises an overhang 100, which, when the arm 93 is in the position shown in FIG. 1, is supported by the paper tape 28. In loading the paper tape in the punching mechanism, the tape is inserted under the overhang 100 and then over the sprocket wheel 62 (FIG. 5) and the rollers 101 and 102 to a take-up spool (not shown). The rollers 101 and 102 are rotatably supported on shafts 103 and 104, respectively, which shafts are secured to the side frame 21. I

Associated with the sprocket wheel 62 is a pressure pad 105 (FIG. 1), secured to an arm 106, rotatably supported on the shaft 104. A link 107 has one end pivotally secured to the arm 106, while the other end is attached to one end of a lever 108, secured to the side frame 21. The other end of the lever 108 comprises a cam surface, to which is attached a spring 109, normally urging said lever counter-clockwise, as viewed in P16. 1. It will be seen that the counter-clockwise movement of the lever 108 will rotate the pressure pad 105 into engagement with the tape to hold the tape against the sprocket wheel 62. A handle 110, located on the pressure pad, facilitates the manual rotation of the pressure pad to the withdrawn position, shown in FIG. 1, so that the paper tape 28 may be loaded into the punching mechanism. It will be seen that the rotation of the pressure pad to its withdrawn position will rock the lever 108 clockwise, whereby the cam surface of the lever will rotate the arm 93 counter-clockwise, positioning the overhang 100 for the loading operation.

In the event the paper tape breaks during a punching operation, a micro-switch (PEG. 1) is opened, interrupting an energizing circuit to the eccentric drive motor (not shown). The switch 120 has a spring arm 111, having a roller 112 rotatably supported at one end. The roller engages one end of the arm 98, as shown in FIG. 1. When the paper tape 28 breaks, the arm 98 is rotated clockwise by a spring 113, allowing the spring arm 111 to move away from the micro-switch 120, thereby opening the micro-switch. Moving the arm to the position shown in FIG. 1 closes the switch to allow for further punching operations.

While the form of mechanism shown and described herein is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment disclosed herein, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms.

What is claimed is:

l. Perforating apparatus comprising a plurality of punch elements; a plurality of punch levers, one for each punch element, each punch lever being pivotally supported intermediate its ends by its associated punch element; a stop engaging each of said punch levers opposite the punch elements; a continuously-operating actuating means located at one end of each said punch levers and operable to oscillate said punch levers normally about the punch elements and the stop in a first and second non linear movement; a plurality of pivoted interposer arms, one for each punch lever, each arm having an associated interposer normally positioned in close proximity to, but out of the path of, the free end of a punch lever; means selectively operable for rotating said interposer arms to move their associated interposers to a position engageable by the free end of the oscillating punch levers during their first non-linear movement, thereby pivoting said punch levers about the interposer to operate the punch elements; continuously-operable cam means disposed adjacent the interposer arms and engaging those interposer arms activated for a punching operation to restore said arms to their normal position; and means pivotally connected to each of the punch elements for normally urging the punch elements towards the punch levers and engageable by the punch levers during the second part of their non-linear oscillating movement for restoring the actuated punch elements to their original position.

2. Perforating apparatus comprising a plurality of punch elements; a plurality of punch levers, one for each punch element; each punch lever being pivotally supported intermediate its ends by its associated punch element; a stop engaging each of said punch levers opposite the punch elements; a rotatable eccentric disposed within one end of each of said punch levers for actuating the punch levers through a non-linear oscillating movement; a plurality of movable interposers, one for each punch lever,

each interposer normally positioned in close proximity to, but out of the path of, the free end of its related punch lever; means selectively operable to position any of said interposers for engagement with the free end of its associated punch lever, thereby pivoting the punch lever about the interposer to operate the related punch element; and means pivotally connected to each of said punch elements and engaging the punch lever during a portion of its oscillating movement for restoring the actuated punch elements to their normal position.

3. Perforating apparatus comprising a punch; a lever pivotally supported intermediate its ends by said punch and having means located at one end for oscillating said lever about the punch to move the free end through an elliptical path; engaging means located adjacent the free end of said oscillating lever; means for moving said engaging means to a position engageable by the free end of said lever such that further elliptical movement of the free end of said lever will be prevented and the lever will pivot about said engaging means, thereby operating the punch; and means pivotally connected to said punch for normally urging said punch towards said lever and engageable with the lever for restoring the punch to its original position.

4. In combination, in a perforating machine, a plurality of punch elements; 'a plurality of punch levers, one for each punch element; each punch lever being pivotally supported intermediate its ends by its associated punch element; a stop engaging each of said punch levers opposite the punch elements; a continuously-operating eccentric means located at one end of said punch levers and operable to oscillate said punch levers normally about the punch elements in a first and a second non-linear oscillating movement; a plurality of pivoted interposer arms, one for each punch lever, each arm having an attached interposer normally positioned in close proximity to, but out of the path of, the free end of its related punch lever; means associated With said interposer arm to position the interposers forengagement with the free end of the punch levers during their first non-linear oscillating movement, thereby pivoting said punch levers about the interposers to operate the punch elements; continuously-operating cam means associated with said interposer arms for restoring each engaged interposer to its original position during the punch levers second nonlinear oscillating movement; and other means engaged by the punch lever during its second non-linear movement for restoring all actuated punch elements to their normal position.

5. Perforating apparatus comprising a plurality of punch elements supported for individual movement to an operating position; a plurality of levers, one for each punch element, each lever being supported intermediate its ends by its associated punch element; stop means ongaging each of saidlevers in its normal position opposite the punch elements; eccentric operating means acting on one end of each of said punch levers to normally oscillate said levers in a non-linear movement about their pivoted engagement with the punch elements and the stop; individual engaging members for said levers, each engaging member being normally disengaged therefrom but capable of being moved to a position engaging the free end of the oscillating punch lever during the first half of its non-linear movement and being disengaged during the second half of said movement; means for selectively moving said engaging members to an operating position with the free end of the punch levers to pivot the levers about the engaging members, thereby moving the punch elements to an operating position; and means engaging the punch levers and the punch elements for restoring all of the operated punch elements to their nonoperating position.

6. In combination in a perforating machine, a punch supported for movement to an operating position; a lever pivotally supported intermediate its ends by said punch and having eccentric means located at one end for con-- tinuously oscillating said lever about the punch ina first andsecond non-linear movement; a stop engaging said lever opposite the punch; engaging means located adjacent the free end of said lever and capable of being moved to a position to intercept the free end of said lever during its first non-linear movement; means for moving said engaging means to an engageable position with said lever such that further movement of the lever will pivot said lever about the engaging means to operate the punch; continuously-operating cam means associated with said engaging means for restoring the engaging means to its original position during the second non-linear movement of said lever; and other means connected to said punch for normally urging said punch towards said stop and engageable with the lever during its second non-linear movement for restoring the punch to its original position.

7. Perforating apparatus comprising a plurality of punch elements; a plurality of punch levers, one for each punch element, each punch lever being pivotally supported intermediate its ends by its associated punch element; a stationary stop engaging each of said punch levers opposite the punch elements; a continuously-operating eccentric located' at one end of each of said punch levers and operable to oscillate said punch levers normally about the punch elements and the stop in a first and a second non-linear movement;'a plurality of pivoted interposer arms, one for each punch lever, each arm having an interposer pivotally attached to one of its ends and normally positioned in close proximity to, but out of the path of, the free end of an oscillating punch lever; means selectively operable for rotating said interposer arms to move their associated interposers'to a position engageable by the free end of the oscillating punch levers dur-. ing their first non-linear movement, thereby pivoting said punch levers about the interposers to move the punch elements to an operative-position; continuously-operable cam means associated with the interposer arms for restoring allactivated interposer arms to their normal position during the second non-linear movement of the punch levers; and a plurality of levers, each having one of its ends pivotally connected to a punch element, the other end of which lever is spring urged to normally move said punch element towards its associated punch lever and which is engaged by the punch lever during the second part of the punch levers non-linear movement for restoring all operated punch elements to their original position. v

8. Perforating apparatus comprising a plurality of punch elements supported for individual movement to an operating position; a plurality of levers, one for each punch element, each lever'being supported intermediate its ends by its associated punch element; stop means engaging each of said levers in its normal position opposite the punch element; eccentric operating means acting on one end of each of said punch levers to normally oscillate the free end of said levers in a movement having horizontal and vertical components; individual interposer members for said levers, each interposer mem ber normally positioned out of the path of movement of the free end of the levers but movable to an effective position where the horizontal component of the movement of the free end of said levers will move'the free end into and out of engaging relation with its related interposer and Where the vertical component of said movement will be eiiective when the free end of the levers is engaged With said interposer to cause the punch lever to pivot about the interposer to operate the punch element; and means simultaneously engaging the punch levers and the punch elements for restoring all of the operated punch elements to their non-operating position.

9. Perforating apparatus comprising a plurality of punch elements supported for individual movement to an operating position; a plurality of levers, one for each punch element, each lever being supported intermediate its ends by its associated punch element; stop means engaging each of said levers in its normal position opposite the punch element; eccentric operating means acting on one end of each of said punch levers to normally oscillate the free end of said levers in a movement having horizontal and vertical components; and individual interposer members for said levers, each interposer member normally positioned out of the path of movement of the free end of the levers but movable to an effective position where the horizontal component of the movement of 10 the free end of said levers will move the free end into 5 about the interposer to operate the punch element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,346,267 Mills et a1. Apr. 11, 1944 2,398,014 Lake Apr. 9, 1946 2,436,126 Tholstrup Feb. 17, 1948 

